7 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE ADOPTING A PET

Today's blog post is inspired by my two amazing rescue animals: my cat Rum Tum and my dog Maisel. 

1. BE PREPARED TO CLEAN

​Pets are like children in that they will get into literally anything they can. Before you bring a new pet into your home, you need to clean up everything off the floor. Trust me, no matter how small, they will find it. For us, we had to clean up Rum Tum's smaller toys because Maisel can actually swallow them. You will be surprised what went unnoticed in your cleaning efforts!

2. DON'T SPEND MONEY ON THINGS YOU CAN DIY

There are literally so many things you can DIY for your dog or cat that will cost you a fortune to purchase at a store. Maisel has a Kong, which is a rubber dog toy that you can fill with treats and different things. Kong sells this filling that can cost $6 for only two uses. Instead, I decided to use things like green beans and cream of chicken soup to fill it. You can also DIY toys, clothing, treats, and much more!

3. YOUR PETS MAY NOT GET ALONG RIGHT AWAY

I was fully convinced that my cat's loving nature would mean that she wouldn't have much of a problem with our dog. According to the cat scratch scars on my arms, that proved to be wrong. In reality, my cat has been the ruler of the roost for more than two years. She was startled by a dog that is much bigger than her and much more energetic.​

We've decided to give Maisel the house during the day and give Rum Tum the house at night. We also are slowly acclimating them to one another by letting them out at the same time under very watchful eyes. I think it is going pretty well. I really hope they will be best friends one day!

4. SCHEDULE A CHECK-UP RIGHT AWAY

I adopted Maisel from a larger shelter in Charlotte, N.C. The shelter was having a "donate what you like" day because it was getting pretty full. When we were on the way home, I noticed that Maisel's nose was bleeding and she was sneezing. We called the shelter and they said she probably had kennel cough, which is like a cold for dogs that can progress into pneumonia. 

We had to take her to a vet to get some medicine, and the vet did an exam on her. PetSmart and other clinics may offer a special general exam for your new animal. Have them checked out, especially if they will come in contact with other animals. Don't trust the shelter to have kept them up-to-date on everything.

5. PETS TAKE ENERGY

Cats can be pretty low-energy and low-maintenance, which is why we never struggled with this before. Maisel requires a ton of energy and extra time. We used to spend a lot of our afternoon on the couch or watching something in the room. She, however, tends to misbehave or get into things when we don't show her enough attention or stimulate her through exercise. Be sure you're ready to take walks and play fetch!

6. TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM CHICKEN PRODUCTS

At least with my animals, I try to steer clear of anything containing chicken.

Many of these products contain fillers that can cause allergies in your pets. I know it is true for Maisel and my brother's dog, Luna.

7. GET TOYS THAT REPLACE THEIR BAD HABITS

For Rum Tum, a scratching post/tower was awesome. She scratches that and not our furniture. For Maisel, we get those crinkly toys because she likes paper and plastic sounds. We also got her the Kong, which keeps her from tearing up a lot of things in her cage during the day.

CONCLUSION

Above everything else, be sure to love your adopted pets. Odds are, they were on the street or were surrendered by someone they really loved. They need the love and joy that comes with a new family!